Photosynthesis Cellular Repiration
And How they interact!
The Process Photosynthesis
Photosynthetic organisms generate these compounds using carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), and the products they release are oxygen (O2) and carbohydrates as byproducts. In plants Photosynthesis primarily occurs in the plants leaves and very little occurs in the plants stem, roots, etc. In the first phase of photosynthesis, cellular protein pigments called chloroplasts are excited by light that propels them into high-energy states. The chloroplasts then transfer this energy through electrons to other protein complexes(read: several proteins stuck together). This group of proteins is called the electron transport chain. The proteins operate similarly to a group of dominoes: after the first one has been pushed, each protein transfers energy to each member along down the line.
The Process of Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is a misleading name: usually "respiration" refers to breathing. In this case, though, cellular respiration refers to converting glucose, a simple sugar (carbohydrate), into energy for cells. Cellular respiration is the process by which the chemical energy of "food" molecules is released and partially captured in the form of ATP. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins can all be used as fuels in cellular respiration, but glucose is most commonly used as an example to examine the reactions and pathways involved.
ATP:
A nucleotide that is composed of adenosine and three phosphate groups and releases energy when hydrolyzed to ADP. It is present in all cells, where it is used to store and transport energy needed for biochemical reactions.
How They Work Together
- Photosynthesis and respiration are both things that depend on each other. They both make what the other needs.
- Photosynthesis uses water and carbon dioxide, and it makes glucose and oxygen.Respiration uses glucose and oxygen, and it makes water and carbon dioxide.
- Photosynthesis builds the sugars that respiration breaks down. In breaking down the sugars, respiration makes the smaller molecules that photosynthesis uses to build more sugars.